GOP targeting churches...again

[ProSense]

Posted on Sat, Feb. 18, 2006

N.C. POLITICS

Church leaders criticize GOP effort to get membership lists

The Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. - Some church leaders in North Carolina have asked their members to ignore a request made this week by the state Republican Party for copies of church directories that the GOP wants to use in voter-registration efforts.

A spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, which covers 46 counties, said the group does not share parishioners' contact information with anyone.

Snip...

That message would apply to parishioners as well, he said.
The request, sent statewide by e-mail Thursday, said that research by the national Republican Party shows "people who regularly attend church usually vote Republican when they vote."

Snip...

"We believe that people go to church to worship and not to sign up to receive Republican propaganda," Meek said. "I would say the vast majority of Democrats are Democrats because of their faith, not in spite of it. But that is a place that is so sacred that we should not inject politics into the church."

http://www.ohio.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/local/13903862.htm?source=rss&channel=myrtlebeachonline_local

[Kerrytravelers]

1. Can you image what would happen if the Democrats tried something like this

:eyes: Yep. That must be in. No person of faith can possibly be a Democrat. That's so intellignet. :eyes:

[varkam]

2. Democrats are godless, unwashed heathens.

Duh!

[Roaming]

3. Well, unfortunately democrats do stuff like this too

Black baptist churches, at least in my neck of the woods, were visited frequently by political candidates during the last election.

[Warpy]

4. Um, there's a huge difference between a candidate visiting a

church and a political party demanding a list of parishoners to use in trolling for sure thing voters. The former is entirely voluntary, as the parishoners may choose to give it a miss. The latter is a party demand and parishoners have their names supplied without their permission if the church complies.

That's the difference.

[Roaming]

6. I don't think politics should be mixed with religion

This candidate (John Edwards) was invited to speak between the opening songs and just before the sermon. I just think that's inappropriate.

[acmejack]

8. What did he say that was so inappropriate?

Waht specifically did he do that was overtly political or that was disrespecful of where he was? Or are you put off by the fact that he is a politician?

[Roaming]

9. He was a politician basically participating in a religious service

to gain votes. Whatever he said (and it was basically his platform values but nontheless) I don't think that's right.

[sweetladybug]

10. Roaming you're right, black churches were visited frequently by political

candidates in the last election and probably every other election. The difference between Democrats visiting churches and Republicans visit churches is:

1)Democrats visit churches in order to (hopefully) appeal to good hearted true christians that want to help the needy.

2)Republicans visit churches in order to use people by manipulating and conning them to vote AGAINST their own best interest and for the interest of the wealthiest citizens. Republicans are using religion for their own selfish greed!

[Roaming]

12. I guess I'm just more jaded than you, ladybug

But I appreciate your comments.

I don't think the motives differ either way between the parties. It just isn't a good idea.

[Kerrytravelers]

13. I don't care that politicians visit churches.

I don't like church roosters going to political campaigns. I certainly would not want to be on a rethug mailing list.

[napi21]

5. But that's what they HAVE been doing for each election!

The church members were the base they used to get their message out to everywhere. They gave them their weekly talking points, and what to say and what legislators to call. That's how the "family values" thing was kept alive in 2004!

[jedr]

7. Fundies are the only base they have left;

That's the 33% that makes you say huh!!!!!!

[ProSense]

11. Trying to obtain a church's membership list

cannot be compared to a politician visiting a church. The GOP got caught pushing their message via the pulpit, so they decided go after church goers by mail.

[joneschick]

14. ding! ding! ding! We have a winner!

We have two entirely different enterprises here. A demand for church registry doesn't sound to me as though the church goers permission has been even considered. A visit from a politician, would be at the invitation of the church goers. Now I will grant you that my church affiliation is with a denomination that operates from the congregation and has no real hierarchical office to answser to. Our denomination does have a headquarters and all that, but we are thoroughly self-directed. I suspect the Southern Baptists take direction and are acted upon by a hierarchy.

[Rocknrule]

15. Personally

I don't think Jesus would've wanted to be associated with any political group

But he sure as hell wasn't conservative, I know that much